Drapery suspension devices



July 7, 1964 J. R. CIALELLA DRAPERY SUSPENSION DEVICES Filed May 15, 1962 LIAMES R. BIALELLA V ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,139,647 DRAPERY SUSPENSION DEVICES James R. Cialella, 76 Lund Ave., Waterbury, Conn. Filed May 15, 1962, Ser. No. 194,845 6 Claims. (Cl. 1687.4)

The present invention relates to drapery suspension devices particularly for use in connection with pleated draperies supported for sliding movement upon a horizontal traverse rod.

The usual practice in suspending draperies is to secure a pleat-retaining hook member in the upper hem of the drapery and thereupon engage its hook in the opening of a slide carrier supported for horizontal sliding movement in a traverse rod. It has been found that due to the forwardly offset position of the drapery the hook member tended to cant into a tilted or non-vertical position resulting in an unsightly horizontal creasing and outward deflection of the pleated upper hem portion of the drapery engaged by the hook member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suspension device whereby the conventional pleat-retaining hook member is supported by the slide carrier such manner that it is restrained against tilting movement about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, the combined restrain maintaining the pleated upper hem portion of the drapery in a vertical position, as well as in substantially constant parallel spaced relation to the traverse rod as the drapery is drawn into open or closed position.

It is a further object to provide a suspension device for engagement by a conventional pleat-retaining hook member and which is adapted to be interlockingly connected to a conventional slide carrier, to the end that the suspension device may be conveniently employed as an attachment for drapery suspension installations already in use.

A further object is to provide a suspension device for supporting a drapery hook in the manner above pointed out and which forms an integral part of a slide carrier of otherwise conventional form.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed decription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing a suspension device according to the invention connected to a conventional slide carrier and having the conventional drapery hook engaged therewith, the traverse rod being shown in crosssection and the upper end of the drapery being shown in dot-and-dash lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the suspension device;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view;

FIG. 6 is a view partially in vertical section and partially in side elevation showing the manner in which the suspension device is interlockingly connected to the slide carrier, the full lines showing the initial engaging position, and the dot-and-dash lines showing an intermediate position wherein a locking hook of the device is engaged in the hole of the slide carrier and from which latter position the suspension device is adapted to be moved to its interlocked position as seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a modification of the suspension device according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation showing the suspension device illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 in interlocked relation with a conventional slide carrier;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 1ll1tl of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation of another modification of the invention in which the suspension device is an integral part of the slide carrier; and

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-6 the suspension device 10, according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated therein, is adapted to be interlockingly connected to a conventional slide carrier 11 supported for sliding movement in a traverse rod 12, and is further adapted to sup port a conventional pleat-retaining hook member 13 in forwardly offset relation to the traverse rod, it being pointed out that in normal practice the hook member is directly engaged with and supported by the slide carrier.

The slide carrier 11 may be of any conventional design, the illustrated example being molded from nylon and consisting of a vertically extending hanger portion 14 provided near its upper end with a forwardly projecting button 15 having a reduced neck 16 for sliding engagement in the longitudinal slot 17 of the traverse rod 12, and provided near its lower end with a circular hole 18, the normal function of which is to receive a hook port of the hook member. A pair of reinforcing ribs 19-49 is provided upon the rearward side of the slide carrier to stiffen its upper portion and provide finger grips to facilitate the assembly of the slide carrier with the traverse rod.

The pleatretaining hook member 13 may be of any conventional design and as illustrated comprises a pair of resilient arms 2020 connected at their lower ends by a bight 21 and provided at their upper convergent ends with oppositely extending loops 2222, the resilient arms 20 adapate'd to be secured within a pleat formation of a drapery D by insertion therein and sitching, as will be understood. A hook part 23 of inverted V-form is secured as by welding to the bight portion 21 of the hook member. It will be understood that various types of book members of known design may be employed, certain types having various arrangements of pleat-supporting arms welded to a hook part, and others consisting of a one-piece structure, for example wherein a pin is bent upwardly from the lowerend of a hook part of to the slide carrier 11, and the base wall and forward wall adapted to be engaged by the hook part 23 of the hook member 13, as will presently more fully appear. The bend between the base wall portion 24 and the rearward wall portion 25 is reinforced by a gusset formation 27, so that the base wall will be prevented from bending downwardly through downward load imposed upon its forward end.

At its upper end the rearward wall 25 is provided with an angular extension 28, preferably disposed at an angle of approximately 45 to the vertical plane of the rearward wall and having a horizontal slot 29 therein for receiving the vertical hanger portion 14 of the slide carrier 11, and in spaced relation below the slot there is provided a rearwardly and downwardly extending locking lug 30 for interlocking engagement with the slide carrier through insertion in the hole 18. The locking lug may be conveniently formed by bending it from the rearward wall 25, thus leaving a vertical slot 31 which as clearly shown in FIG. 4 forms a T-slot with the horizontal slot 29. The slot 29 is so dimensioned that in a tilted position of the suspension member, as shown in full lines in FIG. 6, the vertical hanger portion 14 of the slide carrier will pass freely through it and in the normal interlocked position of the suspension member, as shown in FIG. 1, with the extension 28 in inclined relation, the horizontal upper edge of the slot will'engage the rearward side of the slide carrier while the vertical wall 25 will engage its forward side. The locking lug 30 is so dimensioned that in the raised position of the suspension device as seen in full lines in FIG. 6 it will swing freely through the hole 18 of the slide carrier to the dot-and-dash line position, whereupon it will drop downwardly to dispose its transverse top portion against the lower side of the hole with its vertical leg portion at the back of the slide carrier. The spacing of the vertical leg of the locking lug from the vertical wall 25 is substantially equal or slightly greater than the thickness of the vertical hanger portion 14 of the slide carrier so that through its cooperation with the slot 29 the suspension member is rigidly interlocked with the slide carrier through downward pressure thereon, such as that provided by the weight of the drapery.

The base wall 24 is provided with a hole 32 of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the round wire material forming the hook part 23, and the vertical wall 26 is provided in its upper edge with a downwardly extending notch 33, centrally aligned with the hole 32 and of a width to receive the bight of the hook part 23 with a sliding fit. The hole 32 is so positioned with respect to the wall 26 and the notch 33 that when the bight of the hook part 23 is engaged in the notch, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the free leg of the hook part is engaged in the hole 32 at an angle which supports the hook member against tilting about a horizontal axis, while at the same time it is supported against tilting about a vertical axis. Thus the arms 20 of the hook member and the drapery pleat secured thereto will not only be supported in a vertical position but will be maintained in substantially constant parallel relation to the forward face of the traverse rod as the drapery is moved along the rod by the slide carrier.

In FIGS. 710 there is shown a modified form of the suspension device, preferably molded from similar plastic material to the slide carrier 11, for example nylon, and consisting of a base wall 34, a vertical rearward wall 35, and a vertical forward wall 36. The rearward wall is provided with an integral stud 37 having a projecting bead 38 at its rearward edge, and which is adapted through the slight elasticity of the plastic material to be snapped into engagement with the hole 18 of the slide carrier to interlockingly connect the suspension device to the slide carrier. Rearwardly extending lugs 39--39 along the side edges of the rearward Wall engage the side edges of the hanger portion 14 of the slide carrier to fix the suspension device against angular movement about the stud 37. The forward Wall is provided with a notch 40 for receiving the bight of the hook part 23 in similar manner to the first d embodiment, and the base wall 34 is provided with a hole 41 for receiving the rearward leg of the hook part. Reinforcing ribs 4242 extend between the forward and rearward walls along the base wall. The hook part 23 cooperates with the suspension device of FIGS. 7-10 in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 there is shown a further modification preferably molded from plastic material, for example nylon, and in which the suspension device is integral with the slide carrier. In this case the vertical hanger portion 14a of the slide carrier is integrally connected at its lower end to a base Wall 43 provided at its forward end with a vertical forward wall 44 having a notch 45 in its upper edge, the base wall 43 having a hole 46 and reinforcing ribs 474'7 extending between the hanger portion 14a and the forward wall 44. The hook part 23 cooperates with the suspension device of FIGS. 11 and 12 in substantially the same manner as in the other embodiments.

I claim:

1. In a drapery suspension device, of the type including a slide carrier engageable with a traverse rod for relative longitudinal sliding movement and including a substantially vertically extending hanger means for depending from the rearward side of said traverse rod; said device being for use with a drapery hook comprising a drapery engaging part, and a hook part of substantially inverted V-shaped having downwardly divergent legs and a bight connecting said legs, one of said legs having a free end and the other of said legs being connected to said drapery engaging part; the improvement comprising a relatively thin horizontal base wall portion, means connecting said base wall portion to said hanger means for disposition below said traverse rod in forwardly extending relation to said hanger means, and a relatively thin vertical forward wall portion extending upwardly from the forward end of said base wall portion for disposition in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of sliding movement of said slide carrier having an upwardly opening notch in its upper edge for receiving and supporting said bight of said hook part, and said base wall portion having a vertical hole rearwardly spaced from said vertical wall having its axis disposed in a transverse vertical plane normal to said base and to said vertical wall and centered in said notch for receiving said one leg of said hook part through downward insertion of its free end therethrough, said hole being of such size as to receive and support said leg therein at an inclined angle to the vertical axis of said hole, and said notch being of such size as to centrally position said bight and said leg in said transverse vertical plane and restrain movement of said hook part relatively to said transverse vertical plane.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by an aperture in said hanger means, an upwardly extending rearward wall portion integral with said horizontal base wall portion, and means carried by said rearward wall portion engageable in said aperture for interlocking said rearward wall portion to said hanger means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by an aperture in said hanger means, an upwardly extending rearward wall portion integral with said horizontal base wall portion, a hook-like lug carrier by said rearward wall portion engageable in said aperture for interlocking said rearward wall portion to said hanger means, and an angular extension carried by said rearward wall portion in upwardly spaced relation to said lug having a slot for receiving said hanger means.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said horizontal base wall portion is integrally connected to and extends forwardly from said hanger means.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by an aperture in said hanger means, an upwardly extending rearward wall portion integral with said horizontal base wall portion, and a stud carried by said 5 6 rearward wall portion for interlocking snap engagement References Cited in the file of this patent in said aperture UNITED STATES PATENTS d. The invention as defined in claim 5 further charac- 1,581,806 Kirsch Apr. 20 1926 tenzed by positioning lugs carried by said rearward wall 2,653,344 Grahel- Sept, 9 95 portion for engagement with the side edges of said hanger 5 2,709,831 Mountain June 7, 1955 means. 2,724,811 Poupitch Nov. 22, 1955 2,815,526 Rosenzureig Dec. 10, 1957 2,872,696 Perlmutter Feb. 10, 1959 

1. IN A DRAPERY SUSPENSION DEVICE, OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A SLIDE CARRIER ENGAGEABLE WITH A TRAVERSE ROD FOR RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL SLIDING MOVEMENT AND INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING HANGER MEANS FOR DEPENDING FROM THE REARWARD SIDE OF SAID TRAVERSE ROD; SAID DEVICE BEING FOR USE WITH A DRAPERY HOOK COMPRISING A DRAPERY ENGAGING PART, AND A HOOK PART OF SUBSTANTIALLY INVERTED V-SHAPED HAVING DOWNWARDLY DIVERGENT LEGS AND A BIGHT CONNECTING SAID LEGS, ONE OF SAID LEGS HAVING A FREE END AND THE OTHER OF SAID LEGS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID DRAPERY ENGAGING PART; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A RELATIVELY THIN HORIZONTAL BASE WALL PORTION, MEANS CONNECTING SAID BASE WALL PORTION TO SAID HANGER MEANS FOR DISPOSITION BELOW SAID TRAVERSE ROD IN FORWARDLY EXTENDING RELATION TO SAID HANGER MEANS, AND A RELATIVELY THIN VERTICAL FORWARD WALL PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE FORWARD END OF SAID BASE WALL PORTION FOR DISPOSITION IN A VERTICAL PLANE PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE CARRIER HAVING AN UPWARDLY OPENING NOTCH IN ITS UPPER EDGE FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING SAID BIGHT OF SAID HOOK PART, AND SAID BASE WALL PORTION HAVING A VERTICAL HOLE REARWARDLY SPACED FROM SAID VERTICAL WALL HAVING ITS AXIS DISPOSED IN A TRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE NORMAL TO SAID BASE AND TO SAID VERTICAL WALL AND CENTERED IN SAID NOTCH FOR RECEIVING SAID ONE LEG OF SAID HOOK PART THROUGH DOWNWARD INSERTION OF ITS FREE END THERETHROUGH, SAID HOLE BEING OF SUCH SIZE AS TO RECEIVE AND SUPPORT SAID LEG THEREIN AT AN INCLINED ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL AXIS OF SAID HOLE, AND SAID NOTCH BEING OF SUCH SIZE AS TO CENTRALLY POSITION SAID BIGHT AND SAID LEG IN SAID TRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE AND RESTRAIN MOVEMENT OF SAID HOOK PART RELATIVELY TO SAID TRANSVERSE VERTICAL PLANE. 